Google Voice, the successor to the company’s GrandCentral service which allowed users to manage all of their phone numbers through a single, dedicated Google number, is now available as a standalone application for Blackberry and Android mobile phones.
With the new mobile apps, Google Voice users will be able to make calls and send SMS messages directly from their mobile phones. Users can even make Google Voice calls directly from their phonebook as the app directly integrates with contacts. Other features include access to voicemail and SMS messages sent to a Google Voice number, access to call history, and international calling at lower rates (in all probability) than your telecommunications provider.
You’ll need a Google Voice account to use the Blackberry and Android apps, so if you weren’t a GrandCentral user and haven’t received an invite yet you’re out of luck. Furthermore, you’ll have to live in the United States to have access to Google Voice. But if you do meet all of the requirements, you can download the application from the Google Voice mobile site (m.google.com/voice) or search for Google Voice in the Android Market.
